eccentricityn.
/ɛksɛnˈtrɪsɪti/ The state or quality of being eccentric adj.† 2. The condition of not being centrally situated; distance from the centre. Obsolete.
1. The quality of being abnormally centred; of not being concentric; of not having the axis in the centre. †Orig. of planetary orbits: The fact of having the earth at a distance from the centre (Obsolete exc. Historical). In modern astronomy of a circle or arc in the celestial sphere: The fact of not being concentric with the sphere.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > planet > planetary movement > [noun] > orbit > eccentricity
eccentricity1556
the world > space > shape > misshapenness > [noun] > asymmetry > about centre
eccentricity1839
the world > the universe > celestial sphere > circle of celestial sphere > [noun] > fact of not being concentric with sphere
eccentricity1858
1556 R. Record Castle of Knowl. 247 Sith the centre of the greater circle is by A, and the centre of the lesser circle is by B, the distaunce betweene A and B is the quantitie of their eccentricitye.
1595 J. Davis Seamans Secrets i. sig. A3 All which differences are caused by the excentricitie [printed excontricitie] of her Orbe wherein she moueth.
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica 325 Yet by reason of his Excentricity, his [the sun's] motion is unequall.
1839 R. S. Robinson Naut. Steam Engine Explained 107 o r, being the whole motion caused by the eccentricity..a portion of o r must be cut off by the eccentric pulley.
1858 J. F. W. Herschel Outl. Astron. (ed. 5) iii. 83 The effect of excentricity is..to increase the arc representing the angle in question on one side of the circle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > [noun] > distance from the centre
eccentricity1825
1825 T. Jefferson Autobiogr. in Wks. (1859) I. 48 Its local eccentricity..lessened the general inclination towards it.
a1856 W. Hamilton Lect. Metaphysics (1859) II. xxxii. 241 The agitation of one place of a sheet of water expands itself, in wider and wider circles..although, in proportion to its eccentricity, it is always becoming fainter.
3.
a. Of a curve: Deviation from circular form.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > types of curvature > [noun] > curve of shape of part of circle > deviation from
eccentricity1696
1696 W. Whiston New Theory of Earth i. 18 All degrees of Eccentricity make Ellipses of all Species.
1868 W. Lockyer & J. N. Lockyer tr. A. Guillemin Heavens (ed. 3) 72 The orbit of Mercury is very elongated, or, in astronomical language, its excentricity is considerable.
b. as a measurable quantity.The eccentricity of an ellipse was formerly defined as the distance between the centre and one of the foci; it is now represented as an abstract number, e.g. as the ratio of the focal distance of the centre to the semi-major-axis. The more modern expression, however, for the eccentricity of all conic sections is the ratio of the focal distance (of any point in the curve) to the distance from the directrix. In the case of the ellipse this is numerically identical with the ratio previously mentioned.
ΚΠ
1715 tr. D. Gregory Elements Astron. I. i. §34. 71 The Right-line AP, connecting the Apsides..the Line of the Apsides; the part of it CS, the Excentricity.
1786 J. Bonnycastle Introd. Astron. 88 The distance between the centre of the ellipse O, and one of its foci F, is called its eccentricity.
1874 Moseley's Lect. Astron. (new ed.) lxxiii. 210 Ellipses whose foci..are near one another..are called ellipses of small eccentricity.
1881 C. Taylor Anc. & Mod. Geom. Conics 164 Having given four points and the eccentricity of a hyperbola..shew how to construct a curve.
4.
a. The quality or habit of deviating from what is usual or regular; irregularity, oddity, whimsicality.
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the world > action or operation > behaviour > a standard of conduct > [noun] > deviation from normal standards of behaviour
fantasticnessc1550
irregularship1577
fantasticalness1581
inconformity1594
irregularity1598
unconformitya1600
excess1709
eccentricity1794
quizziness1798
unconventionality1854
unconventionalism1868
deviation1912
deviance1944
deviancy1954
way-outness1961
quirkiness1971
the world > relative properties > order > disorder > irregularity > unconformity > abnormality > [noun] > oddness
oddness1611
queerity1711
particularity1712
whimsicalness1715
oddity1739
queerness1748
whimsicality1761
singularity1768
quizzity1788
eccentricity1794
quizziness1798
queerishness1803
fantasticness1825
rumness1840
weirdness1869
quirkiness1870
rumminess1872
whimsiness1909
1794 R. J. Sulivan View of Nature V. 187 An excursion, for the eccentricity of which I shall..be condemned.
1859 J. S. Mill On Liberty iii. 120 Eccentricity has always abounded when and where strength of character has abounded.
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 29 Apr. 4/1 What in some persons is called eccentricity, in others would be called insanity.
b. concrete. An instance of deviation from what is usual, an extravagance. Also plural.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > a standard of conduct > [noun] > deviation from normal standards of behaviour > instance of
singularity1570
excursion1615
eccentricity1657
exorbitanta1714
angularity1833
unconventionality1854
quiddities1941
the world > health and disease > mental health > mental illness > degree or type of mental illness > [noun] > slight madness > crankiness or eccentricity
fantasticalness1581
fantasticality1592
eccentricity1657
fantasticness1661
out-of-the-wayness1800
nuttiness1865
crankiness1870
crankism1882
crankery1884
faddishness1884
faddism1885
crankness1890
pottiness1933
wackiness1941
offbeatness1960
kookiness1962
1657 S. Colvil Mock Poem (1751) 49 The like uncertainty he sees In change of Excentricities.
1818 M. W. Shelley Frankenstein I. 3 To render their seeming eccentricities consistent for ever.
1856 R. W. Emerson Eng. Traits vi. 109 I know not where any personal eccentricity is so freely allowed.
1857 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 27 May in Eng. Notebks. (1997) II. vi. 238 Miscellaneous eccentricities of sculpture.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online December 2019).
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